Heat Streak Causes Trouble For Farmers

The long-term climate outlook has temperatures staying above normal through August and potentially into the fall, and some local farmers are concerned.

Days of mid-90 degree weather have already taken their toll on some of this year’s corn crop.

“It turned hot, it turned dry … but the heat is really what destroyed [the corn],” Marshville grower Allan Baucom said.

Corn ears are smaller than normal, and many are missing kernels.

“Probably less than 10 percent of this ear -- this potential ear -- actually got pollinated,” Baucom said, pointing out an underdeveloped ear of corn.

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